Tattoos 'just part of our society'; among Christians 'it is open'.

[farouk]

I saw at least one person with tattoos at my current church.

questdriven:

Well, I see. He or she probably won't be the only one, I guess, will s/he?

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

questdriven:

Well, I see. He or she probably won't be the only one, I guess, will s/he?

Blessings.

Likely not.

 

[farouk]

Likely not.

questdriven: Probably be more evident in the summer months, anyway. I was at a service in the summer and someone in her 50s (I would guess) had a sleeve tattoo in a faith based design, because it was the weather for summer clothes. Mind you, we're not there at a church service to look at each other's tattoos, are we? we should concentrate on God and His truth. It's just that large ones are sometimes obvious. Blessings.

 

[farouk]

PS: [MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] :

Just guessing, but I suppose your mom doesn't have one herself? (that you know of!) Often this can explain a lot, anyway. Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

PS: [MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] :

Just guessing, but I suppose your mom doesn't have one herself? (that you know of!) Often this can explain a lot, anyway. Blessings.

No, she doesn't.

 

[farouk]

..Farouk, I am not a legalistic stick in the mud like you think, just because I am a fundie. Just because I would not have tats or want one, nor would I like one on hubby, doen't mean I don't tollerate them on other people. When I grew up the only women who had tats were in circuses. Nothing religious about my bigotry.. It is just a personal preference. ..

[MENTION=90443]Carolyn[/MENTION] : I'm taking the liberty of responding here to you tattoo comments on the other thread, which wasn't particularly about tattoos.

Actually I don't think at all that you are a 'legalistic stick in the mud' : nothing that you have said would give me that impression!

Yes, it's a matter of personal preference. Yes, years ago maybe it would have been circus women and maybe [MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] 's mom (see above) when she was younger also would have been accustomed only to very few women having them; nowadays, however, it's very different; even some pastors' wives, grandmothers, etc. might have a bit of ink, e.g., such as in a faith related design, or with grandkids' initials, etc.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

Yes, yes they do. I think every one of the hard rock bands I'm into, the members wear earrings, or ear stretchers, or have tattoos ..

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION] :

I'm taking the liberty of commenting on this thread on what you said about tattoos (rather than earrings). Yes, for Christians it can sometimes be nice to have tattoos, especially if they are of a faith based variety that may be useful in testimony situations. For those Christians that actively want them, that is. And I guess it can be said that those who are known as Christian rock musicians with a message definitely are frequent situations where they can bear testimony. (Frankly there is a lot more testimony potential in a tattoo design than in something such as ear piercing.)

Two cents' (Hope it makes some sense?)

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

@questdriven :

I'm taking the liberty of commenting on this thread on what you said about tattoos (rather than earrings). Yes, for Christians it can sometimes be nice to have tattoos, especially if they are of a faith based variety that may be useful in testimony situations. For those Christians that actively want them, that is. And I guess it can be said that those who are known as Christian rock musicians with a message definitely are frequent situations where they can bear testimony. (Frankly there is a lot more testimony potential in a tattoo design than in something such as ear piercing.)

Two cents' (Hope it makes some sense?)

Blessings.

Yes, I think it could make for opportunities for testimony.
It's like something that was said to me regarding a website I used to (and still do) frequent. I had left it for a while, being concerned by some of the things that were allowed to be posted there.
Someone said to me that they thought that there being Christians on the site gave good opportunity for testimony and witness. (And in fact there is a large Christian community on the site.) I wasn't sure at the time, but I eventually came back.

Although it's slightly different with things that you wear, I suppose, but still similar. "Hey, I notice you're a Christian, but you have a tattoo. Aren't Christians against that?" And that gives an opportunity to explain not only that not all Christians are of this opinion, but of the nature of salvation and whether we go to heaven or not isn't based on things like wearing or not wearing tattoos.
I think in cases like these, "looking like the world" may be somewhat beneficial. I think it's more our actions and intentions that matter and that are to be judged as worldly or not, rather than how we look or dress.


Of course, we see that there are widely varying opinions on these matters. And while I may not ultimately agree with those who say that tattoos, earrings, etc are bad, I do think they can bring up good points that should be put into consideration. We should guard our motives, and do everything to the glory of God.

 

[farouk]

Yes, I think it could make for opportunities for testimony.
It's like something that was said to me regarding a website I used to (and still do) frequent. I had left it for a while, being concerned by some of the things that were allowed to be posted there.
Someone said to me that they thought that there being Christians on the site gave good opportunity for testimony and witness. (And in fact there is a large Christian community on the site.) I wasn't sure at the time, but I eventually came back.

Although it's slightly different with things that you wear, I suppose, but still similar. "Hey, I notice you're a Christian, but you have a tattoo. Aren't Christians against that?" And that gives an opportunity to explain not only that not all Christians are of this opinion, but of the nature of salvation and whether we go to heaven or not isn't based on things like wearing or not wearing tattoos.
I think in cases like these, "looking like the world" may be somewhat beneficial. I think it's more our actions and intentions that matter and that are to be judged as worldly or not, rather than how we look or dress.


Of course, we see that there are widely varying opinions on these matters. And while I may not ultimately agree with those who say that tattoos, earrings, etc are bad, I do think they can bring up good points that should be put into consideration. We should guard our motives, and do everything to the glory of God.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

You raise a number of interesting points. The last paragraph particularly strikes me as sensible and balanced. In terms of tattoo designs, what I was particularly thinking about earlier was that designs that are faith based can especially be intrumental in helping witness situations and conversations, not so much the mere fact of having one. Anyway, I still don't see myself as promoting tattoos per se. More, that since they are so widespread and not Christians have them, how about those Christians who have them or will get them anyway consider a faith related design?

(You see my basic point?)

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

You raise a number of interesting points. The last paragraph particularly strikes me as sensible and balanced. In terms of tattoo designs, what I was particularly thinking about earlier was that designs that are faith based can especially be intrumental in helping witness situations and conversations, not so much the mere fact of having one. Anyway, I still don't see myself as promoting tattoos per se. More, that since they are so widespread and not Christians have them, how about those Christians who have them or will get them anyway consider a faith related design?

(You see my basic point?)

Blessings.

Yeah.

 

[farouk]

Yeah.

[MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION]:

Stated differently, no one should ever pressurize you - or anyone - into getting one. That is, you yourself need to supply 100% of the pressure! especially if it would be for a faith based design, a highly personal matter of conviction, right?

And you are right that critics may even help us consider some aspects which might caution us from getting them.

That being said, they can be nice, and some of the artwork (which you've probably seen) is quite amazing sometimes.

But the initiative has to be personal, right?

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

@questdriven :

Stated differently, no one should ever pressurize you - or anyone - into getting one. That is, you yourself need to supply 100% of the pressure! especially if it would be for a faith based design, a highly personal matter of conviction, right?

And you are right that critics may even help us consider some aspects which might caution us from getting them.

That being said, they can be nice, and some of the artwork (which you've probably seen) is quite amazing sometimes.

But the initiative has to be personal, right?

Blessings.

I've seen some really cool ones, especially the ones that sometimes show up on my facebook feed. (Someone who's friends with me on there likes a page about tattoo designs and likes or shares some of the posts sometimes.)

Yeah.

 

[farouk]

I've seen some really cool ones, especially the ones that sometimes show up on my facebook feed. (Someone who's friends with me on there likes a page about tattoo designs and likes or shares some of the posts sometimes.)

Yeah.

@questdriven :

The bottom line, $64,000 question, etc. is: cool on other ppl only or not? the person needs to be very sure, right?

Especially if it's faith based.

Having an email feed about a subject of interest can be a good way of getting information. (This applies in a lot of areas; e.g., I get hundreds of air fare emails, and maybe nearly all are superfluous but then if one email helps save a lot of money, then it's worth.) Same with info. on tatt designs, I suppose; one never knows what eventual idea a piece of design info. might in the end suggest; with you, [MENTION=89910]questdriven[/MENTION], being an artist, too.

Blessings.

 

[farouk]

...it would still be a good conversation starter...

Carolyn: (Just to say, your second recent post, quoted from above, was also commenting on tattoos on the other thread that wasn't particularly about this subject, so I'm responding here, too: )

You are right, faith based tattoo designs are so often all about being conversation-starters.

This is why a lot of people are prepared to receive the needle as a means to evoke faith related comment and discussion.

Blessings.

 

[divinecloud7]

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The scriptures tell us to adorn ourselves modestly, not with fine linen, gold, jewelry and makeup.....wouldn't tatoos fall into this category? What is a person trying to illicit with body grafitti?

"What is it ultimately expressing to adorn ourselves with make-up/tatoos?"

Praise be to GOD the father in heaven and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>

 

[farouk]

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

The scriptures tell us to adorn ourselves modestly, not with fine linen, gold, jewelry and makeup.....wouldn't tatoos fall into this category? What is a person trying to illicit with body grafitti?

"What is it ultimately expressing to adorn ourselves with make-up/tatoos?"

Praise be to GOD the father in heaven and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>

divinecloud7:

Some tattoos can indeed be bad.

But for example, a Bible reference such as 'John 3.16' on a wrist, which causes people to comment and ask questions about the wearer's beliefs, is presumably entered into with a desire to honor God.

Blessings.